Tuesday, December 20, 2016

So, Just a Couple of Things

Warning: I'm about to be like that friend who just had her first grandbaby and you see her at the mall and she traps you in the Dillard's shoe department forcing you to look at her slew of pictures and listen to her go on and on about every detail. I mean.....just so you know.

So, Davis' retirement party was so nice. So much food. Good ol' southern food that went on for what seemed like miles down the tables. Let me tell you, there's not much better in the whole world than 9x13 Pyrex dishes stretched out in the deep South topped with an assortment of fried onions, corn flakes, Ritz crackers, and melted cheese......oh, and a brisket so tender that it melts in your mouth like a wedding mint. There were people there from his current co-workers all the way back to some who worked with him when he came on board at 22 and in his words, "had no idea what I was doing." After the food, they presented him with a plaque, some cards and gifts, and his retirement pin. I mean, everyone looks forward to the day when they can finally get their hands on a coveted retirement pin, right? I'm sure he'll wear that everywhere. The best part- they had so many kind things to say about Davis. Words like integrity, faithful, steady, and dependable kept coming up and they made me proud with their stories of how he always does the right thing. That's the Davis we know at home, too. There's no doubt that what he'll miss most about his job are those friends who he considers to be his second family. Having that kind of comradery at work is a real blessing.

So, you might think that the Millers' big news stops there but you'd be wrong. The day after Davis' retirement party, Blair and John Samuel got engaged! They'll be getting married sometime next fall which is the start of Carson's senior year of high school. Clearly, they have all conspired to induce in me some sort of emotional breakdown by cramming as many life changes as possible into a short time frame.

No, really Davis and I couldn't be happier! Isn't that the prayer of parents of daughters from the time their little pink bundles arrive? That, somewhere in the world, there are parents who are teaching their little boy to be kind, forgiving, and faithful. That they're taking him to church and reading to him about Jesus. That they're teaching him how to be a man and how to treat a lady. Urging him to be independent and responsible and a hard worker. And that when they've done their job that God, somehow, would let that little boy find your little girl in this big, big world.......hoping that you've taught her all that she needs to know, too.

Through the years, there have been young men come to our door to pick up our daughter for dates. They've come to take her to the movies, ballgames, dinner out, and proms. They've come dressed in blue jeans or in formal wear with a corsage box in tow. They've all been polite and said, "yes, ma'am" and "no, sir" and nervously opened the car door for her. They've shared meals with us and joined us on trips. Different personalities. Different backgrounds. Different goals.

As it goes with parents, we've trudged along with her through the years of dating and the heartaches and crushes and everything that goes along with the process of elimination which we all have to endure. Then, there came John Samuel and something was different about him. The difference was on his face when he looked at her. It was a love that I recognized because like I told him when he asked for our blessing, "You love her like we love her. You take care of her like we take care of her."

John Samuel is another blessing our family received from Davis' job. John Samuel's dad works in the same office as Davis. The two of them would discuss their college kids and give and receive updates around the water cooler, so to speak. Funny story. At some point, it was decided between the dads that their kids should meet and so when John Samuel came home for Christmas, two years ago, he gave Blair a call at his father's urging. He asked her for a date and they went out the night before they had to go back to different colleges at the end of Christmas break.

I remember their first date. It was raining. No, not just raining.......it was like a deluge of Biblical proportions. Blair had gotten ready ahead of schedule which is almost unheard of and she was trying to decide if she should be in the back of the house when he got here or if she should be in view when he arrived. So many things to consider when trying to execute a successful first date.

The doorbell rang and a tall, dark, handsome young man stood there at the door....with raindrop marks all over his shirt. He came in after shaking the rain off of himself. He was a little nervous which is understandable considering he was meeting his date, her parents, her brother, and their old, ornery dog for the first time......and all at once. You'd have to have nerves of steel to not be a little uneasy about all that. He shook Davis' hand and said all the appropriate things expected from a young southern gentleman. After a few minutes of conversation, they were gone. Out into the stormy night.

Well, the first date led to another and another and here we are two years later. Not many couples can thank their fathers for finding the love of their lives.

Of course, John Samuel did it in grand style using the southern backdrop of the beautiful Oak Alley Plantation. He's had the proposal planned for months. He even arranged for her sorority little sis to be there in hiding to take pictures. After things settle down a bit, I'm interested in enrolling Davis in John Samuel's course on romantic event planning. I feel he could benefit from some refresher classes.

So, we have a wedding to plan and we couldn't be happier! For 20 or so years, I helped brides and their mothers plan weddings......the flower part, at least. I'd meet with them and take notes of their likes and wishes and preferences. I worked with all kinds of brides and all kinds of mothers. All sorts of mother/daughter dynamics. All kinds of flowers. All types of venues and budgets. I was familiar with most of the caterers, photographers, rental businesses, and churches in town.....basically, all things wedding. I could plan other people's daughters' weddings with little problem but now it's hit me that WE'RE going to have a wedding in 2017 and I'm like.......

You know, like I don't have a clue what I'm doing or where to start. I'm sure this is just a temporary condition brought on by all the excitement of the moment. Yeah, that has to be it.

So, all of these life changes should give me plenty to blog about in 2017. I can't wait......I think.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas with your family and friends. I appreciate your time and loyalty to my blog. I'm greatly humbled by it. You'll never know how much it means to me.

Checkbook is out and I'm tearing them out, left and right, Judy! Sorry I'm so behind on responding to my comments! Blair and I are making lots of progress and, knock on wood, no tears have been shed. We have a long way to go, though, so it can't be ruled out just yet. :)

I wondered when I saw John Samuel in the Christmas Card photo you shared! Congratulations! Its so fun and you will do a wonderful job, it will be the wedding of their dreams, and you'll all be very happy!

I've just come off of three weddings in two years, so if you have any questions...feel free to ask! (smile)

Wow! Congratulations to endings and beginnings in your family Joni! How fun to plan your daughters wedding ( hoping for a beautiful, no humidity Fall ) and Davis will be a big help along with Carson. Big happy changes next year for your family:).I love reading your blog and you are an excellent writer Joni.Have a very Merry Christmas, Kathleen in Az